1 Install R

The hands-on sessions will use R and the integrated development environment RStudio.

There are at least two software to install:

  • r
  • RStudio.

The installation of R depends on your operating system (OS). First pick a mirror site at the following address: https://cran.biotools.fr/.

The installation process is described on each mirror site. Here are some key points you should focus on, depending on your OS.

1.1 Windows Users

1.1.1 Install R

You need to install the latest version of R by going to the following address:

https://cran.your_mirror/bin/windows/base/

by replacing your_mirror by the mirror you picked. For example, if your mirror is “Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)”: https://ftp.fau.de/cran/bin/windows/base/.

1.1.2 Install RStudio

To install RStudio, go to the following address: https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/#download.

Then, pick RStudio Desktop.

1.1.3 Install Rtools

If at any point when using R you encounter an error mentioning Rtools, you can install it:

https://cran.your_mirror/bin/windows/Rtools/

Once again, you need to replace your_mirror by the mirror you selected, e.g., https://ftp.fau.de/cran/bin/windows/Rtools/.

1.1.4 Once installed

Once the software is installed, you can launch RStudio.

1.1.5 Troubleshooting

Sometimes you can’t install packages on windows; you will get this kind of error: ‘lib = “C:/Program Files/R/R-4.0.2/library”‘ is not writable “Error in install.packages : unable to install packages”

In such a case, close RStudio, and open it again in administrator mode (right-click on the icon of the file allowing to launch RStudio, choose “Run as administrator”). To avoid doing this every time, you can set the software to run in administrator mode by default (see this tutorial on cnet.com).

1.2 Mac OS Users

1.2.1 Install R

You need to install the latest version of R by going to the following address:

https://cran.your_mirror/bin/macosx

by replacing your_mirror by the mirror you picked. For example, if your mirror is “Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)”: https://ftp.fau.de/cran/bin/macosx.

1.2.2 Install RStudio

To install RStudio, go to the following address: https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/#download.

Then, pick RStudio Desktop.

1.2.3 Once installed

Once the software is installed, you can launch RStudio.

1.2.4 Troubleshooting

It is possible that some packages will not install and require the prior installation of libraries outside of R. You must go case by case and search for solutions on a web search engine. Think also of installing the xcode software (and running it at least once) if you have enough space on your computer. If you continue to use R, you will have to install this software sooner or later.

1.3 Linux Users

If you have a Linux distribution, the installation depends on the distribution of Linux that you have:

1.3.1 Install RStudio

To install RStudio, go to the following address: https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/#download

Then, pick RStudio Desktop.

1.3.2 Once installed

Once the software is installed, you can launch RStudio.